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SQA. DRBWRSL Corsetf Patented Feb. 8,1881;

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N. FETEFSV PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHEH. WASHINGTON. D C.

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s.-A. DRBWRY.

Corset. No. 231,503. Patented, Feb. 8,1881.v

UNITED STATES .PATENT QFFICR.

SARAH A". DREwRY, or New YORK, N. Y.

CORSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,503, dated February 8, 1881.

4 Application filed April 2, 1879.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Mrs. SARAH A. DREW- RY, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Corsets, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a. side elevation of a corset containing my improvement. view. Fig. 3 fs an inside view, the corset being extended.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The nature of my invention consists in a certain new and useful combinationfand'arrangement of parts old in themselves, whereby a new and useful result is produced, all as set forth in the claim appended to this speciiication.

The letter A designates acorset containing my invention. The corset-clasps w areinclosed in receptacles made in the front edges of the corset, as seen at B `B, and the receptacles are closed by suitable removable fastening devices, so that the clasps can be taken out without ripping any seams or stitching when it is desired to wash the corset. In this example of my invention I have employed lacings O for'this purpose, and have made eyeletholes in the corset-body and in the edge of the folded part to receive the lace. This construction enables ine to dispense with sewing or stitching to secure the clasps in their receptacles, and enables me to remove the clasps without ripping a seam or sewing, and to replace and secure them without sewing. The ends of the folded parts B, at the top` and bottom of the corset, are permanently fastened by sewing or other means, so as to form pockets or stops for the ends of the clasps.

The letter G designates vertical bonesor springs, which have heretofore been arranged` incontinuous pockets extending from top to bottom of the corset, and Vhave been made with one end open to allow the bone or spring to be inserted. The open end was afterward closed by sewing, and if it was afterward desired to remove the bone or spring the sewing wasripped, so as to open the pocket.

In my improved corset I arrange a series of short pockets, D, along the top, and also along Fig. 2 is afront the bottom of the corset, to receive the ends of the bones or sprin gs. These pockets are closed at their outer ends-that is to say, at the ends at the top and the bottom of the corset-but are open at their inner ends.

The pockets D are arranged so that each upper pocket shall be in line with a lower pocket.

The bones or springs C are inserted in the pockets by springing them or bending them to a curved form, so as to spring their ends in the mouths of the pockets, when they can easily be pushed into their places in the pockets.

When it is necessary to remove the bones or springs I take hold of theniat their exposed parts between the pockets and pull them out.

It is obvious that the openings or pockets must be at a sufficient distance from each other to permit the insertion and removal of the bones or springs by bending them and springing their ends in and out, as described.

The upper part of the corset, on each side, at E, which comes opposite the bosom of the wearer, is provided with a double series, F F, of stiffeners. I arrange them in a double series, FF, instead of in one uninterruptedlength, as in the present method, in order to let the vertical bone or spring C extend at that place to the top of the corset, and to allow the corset to conform at that part to the natural shape of the body..

Corsets as heretofore made have extended downward so as to bear in a downward direction upon the abdomen, and have thereby been productive of great injury to the health of This injury is so widespread and serious that the attention of the medical profession and medical authors has been widely called thereto, and much study and effort have been expended in endeavors to obviate or remove it. y

One object of my invention is to remove the cause of the injury I have referred to, and I accomplish this by removing that part of the hip-section on each side of the corset to a short distance above the hip-section, which extends from the lower front portion,H, to the lower IOO without having such pressure counteracted by any downward pressure between the abdomen and the hips. The open cut-away portion J, which is thus provided in my corset, extends from the front to the back of the corset, and the front and back ofthe wearer are left to receive all the support which can be obtained from a corset, while the sides of the abdomen and thehips are not covered or pressed upon by the corset, but are both left to their natural movements without anyrestraint or resistancefrom the corset. In the sides of the corset, above this cut-away portion J, I have arranged elastic sections K- made of elastic webbin gin this example-whose edges are connected to the body of the corset by lacing P or other means, so that the elastic sections can be removed when the corset is to be washed. rIhe inside of the corset is pro vided with a lining, L, behind the elastic sections. The linings are wider than the elastic sections, and their edges are secured to the edges of the body of the corset, so as to stretch across the gap and prevent the parts of the corset from becoming disconnected, and also to form a smooth under surface beneath the webbing. When the two elastic sections are employed in a corset the back part of the corset can be made in one piece, instead of being divided and connected by lacing in the usual manner.

It is obvious that my invention enables me to remove the clasps and bones or springs of corsets without ripping or sewing, and thus one is enabled to prepare corsets to be washed, when soiled, like other garments, which is not often done in the cas-e of corsets whose bones and clasps are secured by sewing.

My improved corset supports the bosom, waist, and back without causing downward pressure upon the abdomen and without interfering with the natural action ofthe respiratory organs in breathing.

I am well aware thatthe insertion of the front steels and the securing of the same by laces and eyelets in order to permit of their ready removal for washing is not new.

I am also aware that the securing of the ornearly-perpendicular rear portion extending downward below the waist to the sacrum, and with the front portion curved forward and downward `to below the umbilicus, the result of said arrangement being that there are no whalebones or stift'enings in the side section, directly over the hip, liable to be broken when in the act of stooping or bending sidewise, and that in breathing the two parts of the corset recede from each other to permit lateral expansion at the base of the thorax, opposite the attachment of theim portant respiratory musclethe diaphragm.

What, therefore, I claim asa my invention 1s- A corset composed of the detachable rear section, I, closed at the back, made to extend downward below the waist to the sacrum, and the two front sections, H, cut away at the sides and adapted to be united in front by steels extending from the top to the bottom of the corset, and constructed to reach below the umbilicus and conform to the shape of the abdomen, and the detachable elastic side sections, K, extending froin the top to the open cut-away portion J of the hip-section, protected by the lining L, whereby the abdomen is supported by an inward and upward pressure, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 28th day of March, A. l). 187 9.

SARAH A. DREWRY.

Witnesses:

Tnos. W. Knox, W. HAUFF. 

